UGC hikes fellowship and HRA of JRFs, SRFs

ALLAHABAD: University Grants Commission (UGC) has hiked the fellowship amount and house rent allowance (HRA) of junior research fellow (JRF) and senior research fellow (SRF) through a notification dated June 3.
The apex decision-making body of higher education in the country has hiked the JRF fellowship from the existing Rs 25,000 per month to Rs 31,000 per month. In case of SRF, the fellowship has been hiked from Rs 28,000 to Rs 35,000 per month.
UGC provides JRF for a period of two years and SRF for three years for those qualifying for these fellowships through the National Eligibility Test (NET).
The revised fellowship amount under the UGC scheme for Junior Research Fellowship/Senior Research Fellowship in Science, Humanities and Social Sciences (UGC-NET) was approved in the 539th meeting of UGC held on February 26, 2019 and the notification for the same was issued on June 3, said a departmental official.
In the notice, signed by UGC secretary, Rajnish Jain, the revised amount of fellowships has been made applicable from January 1, 2019. In addition to this, the research scholars would also be getting an enhanced HRA. Accordingly, the HRA at the revised rate of 8%, 16% and 24% is allowed as per Government of India norms as applicable in the location where the research fellows are working.
Likewise, in case of Allahabad University, a JRF who was getting Rs 30,000 (Rs 25,000 and Rs 5,000 for HRA) will now be getting Rs 31,000 plus the HRA, as applicable.
UGC notice also mentions that the other terms and conditions will remain same as per the UGC XII Plan JRF guidelines.
AU PRO Chitranjan said, “AU would follow the directives of the UGC and the monthly fellowship of all the JRF and SRF would be hiked. accordingly.”